🔢WEB · Numbers 5:10
What does Numbers 5:10 mean?
"Every man’s holy things shall be his: whatever any man gives the priest, it shall be his.’”"
— Numbers 5:10 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
then he shall confess his sin which he has done, and he shall make restitution for his guilt in full, and add to it the fifth part of it, and give it to him in respect of whom he has been guilty.
But if the man has no kinsman to whom restitution may be made for the guilt, the restitution for guilt which is made to Yahweh shall be the priest’s; besides the ram of the atonement, by which atonement shall be made for him.
Every heave offering of all the holy things of the children of Israel, which they present to the priest, shall be his.
Every man’s holy things shall be his: whatever any man gives the priest, it shall be his.’”
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
“Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them: ‘If any man’s wife goes astray, and is unfaithful to him,
and a man lies with her carnally, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband, and this is kept concealed, and she is defiled, and there is no witness against her, and she isn’t taken in the act;
Explanation
Numbers 5:10 states a simple legal principle: once a person dedicates something as a holy offering and gives it to a priest, that offering belongs entirely to the priest. It is no longer the property of the original giver — the priest now has full right to it. The verse closes out a short section of instruction with this general rule, making explicit what has just been described in the previous verses.
The context is important for understanding the verse correctly. Numbers 5 is part of Moses's instructions to the Israelites shortly after the tabernacle was established, covering laws meant to keep the camp holy and orderly during Israel's wilderness journey. Verses 5–8 address a situation where someone wrongs another person and must make restitution,
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